Wine Wisdom: What’s your favorite wine?

Wednesday

Mar 12, 2014 at 12:20 PMMar 12, 2014 at 12:20 PM

By Mark P. VincentDaily News correspondent

As a wine writer, Iím frequently asked whatís my favorite wine. Asking me that is similar to asking a fellow with 12 children which one he likes best.Iím not sure thereís an answer to that question, and if there were, it might well vary by the day, assuming the person were willing provide a de?nitive answer to the question.Undoubtedly, a family with many kids experiences something new every day.So it is with folks who love wine and with wine writers. By way of illustration, allow me to share just a few of the wines Iíve had in the past month.As everyone knows, Valentineís Day is one occasion that needs to be celebrated properly or one remains in the doghouse for decades. My girlfriend likes to celebrate her birthday for a week (a month really, but letís not be too picky here), so I suppose it only made sense to convert Valentineís Day into Valentineís Weekend.On the Day itself, we opened a non-vintage Ruinart Brut Rose ($75) as an aperitif and ?nished it with dinner, since Champagne is such a wonderfully food-friendly wine. It was perfect, as one would expect from the oldest Champagne house, dating to 1729. Known for its style of lightness and elegance, Ruinart was a great choice.The next night, we enjoyed a 2004 Moet Grand Vintage Rose ($65), another terri?c choice for its ?nesse and elegance, my preferred style of Champagne. Honestly, Iím not the biggest fan of rose Champagnes, much preferring regular Champagne. But these were so good, how could anyone not love them?Earlier that week, after an evening of shoveling much snow, we invited my landlord up for a glass of wine. I opened a highly impressive Yarden 2000 Blanc de Blanc ($57) that reminded us Champagne isnít the only great bubbly on the planet.Yarden is a terri?c winery in the Golan Heights region of Israel. Iíve had several of their wines, including a wonderful white blend and a nice syrah, and been totally delighted. The Yarden sparkler is pleasant and seems to hit the spot after the labor of shoveling, proving once again that sparkling wine isnít just for celebrations; itís greatAs you can appreciate, one bottle doesnít last long with three thirsty people, so I followed it up with an Adami "Bosco di Gica" Brut Prosecco Valdobbiadene Superiore ($22), which perfectly complemented the gourmet pizza we ate. Adami is my favorite prosecco producer, and this wine reminds me why it is.I receive sample bottles of wine regularly - itís a dirty job, but someone has to do it, I know - and I try to give each a fair shake, tasting them with and without food. I enjoy Spanish wines immensely, so recently we tried a 2007 Rioja Bordon Reserva ($19) and a 2009 Bodegas Bilbainas Vina Pomal Reserva ($21), also from Rioja. I was captivated by the texture of the Bordon, as well as its ?avor, and the Pomal intrigued me for its structure, character, delicious fruit and velvety tannins. Both were highly enjoyable wines that I would drink anytime and good values.Bilbainas 2011 Zaco ($15) was a another delightful offering from Riojaís tempranillo grape, one of my all time favorite grapes, and a ?ne example why Spanish wines are so good and offer stellar value.Italian whites are also among my favorite wines, and hardly a month goes by without my tasting several. Friends and I shared a bottle of Perticaia Trebbiano Spoletino ($25), an incredibly delicious white from made from Trebbiano grapes grown in Umbriaís Spoletino. While Trebbiano is typically noted for being a mundane variety grown in bulk in Italy, an ancient clone has been revived in Umbria and is noted for its stand-out ?avor and character. This is one stunning, full-bodied, Italian white.Another recent highlight was drinking 2005 Domaine Carneros Le Reve Blanc de Blanc ($75) from Taittingerís U.S. winery. As smooth and re?ned as a great Champagne, itís proof great sparklers are also made in America.Mark P. Vincent is a Worcester resident who has a passion for wine. His column runs in Food & Dining on the third Wednesday of the month. Contact him at winewisdom@yahoo.com.